AVSynthesis: Blending Light and Sound with OpenGL and Csound5

Introducing a unique and powerful program for mixing son et lumière into fascinating experimental videos.

Known Problems

The AVSynthesis config.xml file includes entries for changing the program
window size. AVSynthesis defaults to the current screen settings, and
it will fail to launch if it can't validate the dimensions given in the
config file. Alas, I was unable to launch the program in any screen mode
other than my default dimensions (1280x1024).

The Csound phase vocoder opcodes are very CPU-intensive. AVSynthesis
has crashed randomly when I use the effects based on those opcodes,
though it works fine with them at other times.

The render.wav file and the data/render directory must be cleared by
the user; AVSynthesis will overwrite the current contents.

Sound may become distorted when using the Analog Synth 2 and the Wild
Grain processor. Use the mixer to balance audio output from the synths.

The Wrap

AVSynthesis is well worth the effort required to make
it happen. The further I get into AVSynthesis, the more possibilities
I discover that warrant yet deeper exploration, and I can see (and
hear) myself staying involved with the program for quite a while. The
program's author has stated that he intends to squash remaining bugs and
add some new features, but he wants to keep AVSynthesis as uncomplicated
as possible. You can check out the latest version yourself, and with this
guide's assistance, you should be running AVSynthesis quickly and smoothly
under Linux. Have fun, be creative, and be sure to let Jean-Pierre know
how you're using his software.

Dave Phillips is a professional musician and writer living in Findlay, Ohio. He's been using Linux since the mid-1990s and was one of the
original founders of the Linux Audio Developers group. He is the author
of The Book of Linux Music & Sound (No Starch
Press, 2000) and has
written many articles on Linux music and sound issues for various
journals and on-line news sites. When he isn't playing with light and
sound, he enjoys reading Latin literature, practicing t'ai chi, chasing
shar-pei puppies and spending time with his beloved Ivy.

AVS has gone through a series of updates since I wrote this article. Please see the AVS Web page for more information. Significant improvements include randomization controls, a version for JOGL (intended to replace the LWGL dependencies), and better image-size support.